Folding buffet.



w. R. MONTGOMERY.

- FOLDING BUFFET.

APPLICATION FILE D )ULY24, 1915.

5 m r/Z w mm H. wig m mm m a klZZZ/i Witnesses I. flan/km.

Attorneys W. R MONTGOMERY.

FOLDING BUFFET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1915.

1,202,205. Patented Oct. 24,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Witnesses Inventor WALTER RJMQNTGQMERY, orsnnnvnron'r, Louis ana, ASSIGNOR, BY DIREGTVAND SHBEVEPORT, LOUISIANA, ACORPORATION OF LOUISIANA.

FOLDING BUFFET.

To all whom it, may concern a buffet of such construction that it may beconveniently folded or collapsed for purpose of compact storage orshipment, and which when erected will be thoroughly sub stantial inconstruction, as well as being convenient, serviceable and efficient inuse. The present construction utilizes a number of the features of thecabinet forming the subject-matter of my co-pending application,

Serial No. 451,695, filed even date herewith, and the presentconstruction has a'number of improved details whereby the structure 7 isparticularly adapted for use as a buffet .bin'ation and arrangement ofparts and in the details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, it being .understood'that changes in the precise embodiment ofthe invention herein disclosed can be made within'the scope of what isclaimed without departing'froni the spirit of the invention.

'The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a frontview'of the improved buffet. Figs. 2 and '3 arehorizontal sections taken on the lines 2-2 and 33, respectively, ofFig. 1. Fig. et-isa side elevation of the bufiet. Fig. 5 is a verticalsection taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical section ofthe buffet in folded position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectionon the same section lineas Fig. 2, andillustrating the buffet folded.Fig. 8

- isa fraglnental perspective illustrating one I of the connectionsbetween the top and mirror frame. Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspec- "being"separated to illustrate them more Specification of Letters Patent.Patgntgd (M 1324, 1916 Application filed July 24:, 1915. Serial No.41,696. i Y

' clearly. Fig. 10 is a fragmental perspective Be it known that I,WALTER R. MONTGO1\I view of a removable bar employed between the sidewalls for holding the fabric in place at the lower rear corner of thebuifet.

The body of the bufiet comprises a front wall 1 constructed of wood orother suitable material and having legs 2 adjacent its up-.

right side edges, and rearwardly projecting flanges 3 along its sideedges. The front wall 1 has an opening a between the legs 2, the legsextending upwardly and being connected by three vertically spacedhorizontal cross bars 8 which are terminally secured to the legs orsupports 2. A pair of doors 5 are disposed between the upper andintermediate cross bars 8 andhave their remote ends hinged to the frontwall, and to this end, the upper and lower edges of the doors 5 areprovided adjacent the remote ends of said'doors with outstanding dowelsor lugs 6 pivotally engaging the respective cross bars 8. The doors'5may have glass or other suitable panels 7 to add to'the appearance ofthe buffet. Above and below the horizontal swinging doors 5 are doors 9having the outward appearance of drawers, and these doors 9 are hingedto the front wall to swing downwardly. The upper door 9 is disposedabove the upper cross bar 8, while the lower door 9 is disposed betweenthe lower and in termediate cross bars, each of the doors 9 beingprovided at its ends and adjacent its lower edge with outstanding dowelsor lugs 10 pivotally engaging the legs or supports 2. Suitable latchesor catches may be used for holding the doors closed if desi The sidewalls 12 of the body are hinged, as at 13, to the flanges .3 whereby theside walls can be swung inwardly and forwardly toward one another andtoward the front wall when the bufi'etis folded. These side walls 12 maybe provided with wooden or other suitable panels 15. I

The top'16 of the body is normally dis posed between the side walls 12adjacent but spaced slightly'below the upper ends thereof, and theforward edge ofthe top 16 is hingedly connected with theupper end of thefront wall. -Thus, the ends of the said top 16 are provided withoutstanding .dowels or pins 18 pivotally engaging outstanding ears 18carried bylthe front wall. adjacent,

the side edges and upper end thereof, whereby'when the buffet is folded,the top 16 can .be swung upwardly, forwardly and then downwardly infront of the front wall.

An upstanding mirror frame 17 1s normally disposed above the rear edgeof the' top 16 between the side walls 12, the frame 17 being providedwith a mirror 17, and the frame 17 being hinge'dly connected at itslower edge with the rear edge of the top 16. Thus, links 17 connect theends of the frame 17 and top 16. The lower edge portion of the the pins17 when the frame is lowered into place. The portions 17 b in seatingupon the side walls will support theframe 17 as well as the top 16, andthe pins 17 fitting in the sockets 17 will brace the frame 17 andprevent the same from swinging backwardly or a forwardly out of verticalposition.

The back and bottom of the body are formed by a sheet 19 of canvas, duckor other suitable fabric or material which is flexible. The edges of thesheet or fabric 19 are secured in any suitable manner to the rear edgesof the side walls 12, and the upper end of the sheet 19 is detachablyconnected with the rear side of the frame 17, or with the rear edge ofthe top 16 if de-' sired, by means of buttons 19 attached to' the frame17 and with which the upper end of the sheet 19 is engageable. The lowerend portion of the sheet 19 is extended forwardly, as at 20, to providethe bottom of thev body, the sideedges of the portion 20 being securedin any suitable manner to .the lower end of the sidewalls 12, and thelower or forward end of the sheet being secured to the lower cross bar8.

An upper shelf is provided within the .body by means of a sheet offabric 23, of

. tached to the sidewalls 12. This sheet 23 provides an upper shelfabove which there is a compartment, and access may be had to thiscompartment by opening the upper door 9. V p

Alower shelf 21 has its forward edge disposed between and hingedlyconnected to .the flanges 3 of the front wall, and to this end, the endsof the shelf 21 are provided with outstanding dowels or pins 22 adjacentthe forward edge of the shelf 21 and pivotally engaging the flanges 3.The shelf 21 is normally swung rearwardly and downwardly between theside walls 12 and is supported therebetween by means of cleats 24secured to the side walls and upon which the shelf 21 seats. When thebuffet is folded, the

shelf 21 can be swung upwardly and forwardly between the flanges 3. Theshelf 21 provides a compartment thereabove to which access may be hadfor opening the doors 5, and provides a compartment below the same andabove the bottom 20 to which access may be had by opening the lowerdoor9. The various compartments may be used for the storage of table linen,silver, edibles, and the like, as usual. I

The side walls 12 are provided with legs adjacent their rear edges tocoiiperatc with the legs 2 for supporting the body.

A cord or other flexible element 26 is terminally secured to the lowerends of the side walls 12 between the front and, rear edges thereof, andwhen the side walls are swung apart to normal position, the cord 26 willbe drawn taut to thereby support the intermediate or central portion ofthe bot tom 20.

In order to maintain the sheet of fabric 19 in place at the cornerorangle between the back and bottom, a cross bar 27 is em- 'ployed, thesame comprising two sections connected by a strap hinge 28 whereby thesections may be folded or swung together ing of the buffet. readilyplaced between the side walls 12 and straightened out so as to lie inthe angle between the back and bottom, forholding the corner of thesheet 19 in place. This bar 27 is the only removable part of the buffetwhich must be removed when the buffet is folded. v

e To fold the buffet, the sheet 21 is swung upwardly and forwardlybetween theflanges 3, this being readily done when the lower door 9 isopened, so. that the hand may be inserted topush the shelf 21 upwardlyand forwardly, and the mirror frame 17 is then lifted off of the sidewalls to detach it therefrom, and which will swing the top 16 upwardlyfrom betweenthe sidewalls. The top 16 and mirror frame 17 hinged theretoare then swung over the front wall so as to hang in front thereof, asseen in Fig. 6. After the bar 27 is removed, the side walls 12 canbeswung inwardly and forwardly against the shelf 21 and adjacent the frontwall, it being understood that prior to the folding of the bufiet, theupper end of the sheet 19 is detached from the mirror frame 17. When theside walls are swung into folded position, the sheet of fabric 19 isfolded with the side walls. The buffet may then be compactly stored ortransported,

the single detachable part or bar 27 being readily slipped into thefolded buffet to be carried therewith without trouble.

factured, and may also be shipped at a minimum expense, and furthermore,the buffet may be erected with but very little trouble and time,requiring little or no expense, since there are no parts which need beassembled and attached together as is customary with ordinaryknock-clown furniture.

The sheets 19 and 2-3 are preferably coated with a vermin repellingpaint or substance to prevent attack by insects, rodents, and the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A folding article of furniture, comprising a front wall, side wallshinged thereto, a sheet of flexible material attached to the rear edgesof the side walls and having its lower end portion extended forwardlyand attached to the side and front walls, and a flexible elementattached to the side walls between the edges thereof and adapted to bedrawn taut when the side walls are separated whereby said flexibleelement will support the intermediate portion of the lower end portionof said sheet.

2. A folding article of furniture comprising a front wall, side wallshinged thereto, a top hingedly connected with the front wall and adaptedto be swung between the side walls, and a frame hinged to the top, saidframe and side walls having cooperating means for supporting said framefrom the side walls in an upstanding position.

3. A folding article of furniture, comprising a front wall, side wallshinged thereto, a top hingedly connected with the upper end of the frontwall and adapted to be swung forwardly and downwardly in front of thefront wall and to be swung rearwardly between the side walls, and aframe hinged to the free portion of the top and adapted to be hung infront of the front wall with the top, said frame and side walls havingcooperable portions whereby the frame is supported by the side walls inan upstanding position when the top is disposed between said side walls.

4. A folding article of furniture, comprising a front wall, side wallshinged thereto, .a top hinged to the front wall and -movable between theside walls, and a frame having one edge hinged to the rear edge of thetop to fit between the side walls, said frame having portions seatableupon the upper ends of the side walls.

5. A folding article of furniture, comprising a front wall, side wallshinged thereto, a top hinged to the front wall and movable between theside walls, and a frame having one edge hinged to the rear edge ofthetop to fit between the side walls, said frame having portions seatableupon the upper ends of the side walls, said portions and side wallshaving interengageable pins and sockets.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WALTER R. MONTGOMERY.

Witnesses:

IVY E. SIMPSON, PHILOMENA A. Bowman.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

